Henson Creek Neighborhood Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Henson Creek Neighborhood Park is a 120-acre park located in Prince George's County, Maryland.


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Summary

Despite its name, the park is not actually located in Virginia. The park is a popular destination for both locals and tourists with many attractions and amenities to enjoy.

Some good reasons to visit Henson Creek Neighborhood Park include its vast open space and serene atmosphere, ample walking trails, playgrounds, and picnic areas. The park is also home to an aquatic center, a community center, and a sports field for basketball and tennis enthusiasts. Visitors can also enjoy the park's natural beauty and wildlife, including several species of birds and animals.

The park's most notable attraction is the Henson Creek Trail, which extends for three miles and provides scenic views of the surrounding area. The trail is also popular among runners, cyclists, and hikers. Additionally, the park hosts several events throughout the year, including concerts, festivals, and community gatherings.

Interesting facts about the area include its historical significance as a former tobacco plantation, and its rich cultural heritage as a predominantly African-American community. The park is also home to several historical landmarks, including the Henson Family Cemetery, which is the final resting place of several prominent African-Americans.

The best time of year to visit Henson Creek Neighborhood Park is in the spring and summer when the weather is mild, and the park is in full bloom. However, visitors can enjoy the park's amenities year-round, with activities such as ice-skating and snowboarding available during the winter months.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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